MIM: While Saddam's henchmen were gassing Kurds and burying thousands in mass graves America was blamed for undermining Pokemon to as an attempt "to divert attention away from the intifada"

Iraq Says U.S. Behind Anti-Pokemon Campaign

WASHINGTON, May 14 (IslamOnline) - Adding a new twist to the Pokemon controversy, a senior Iraqi minister accused the United States as being behind the anti-Pokemon campaign in the Middle East.

Iraqi Minister Fahd Salemal-Shaqra told Iraqi television that he believes that the real motive behind the campaign was to divert attention from the Palestinian Intifada and damage the Japanese export industry.

"It's a commercial war being orchestrated by Washington to cut the profits of the Japanese company," he said. He said the real undeclared purpose was also to "preoccupy Arab public opinion with futile subjects rather than support for the Intifada."

He claimed that Iraqi scientists have carried out tests on Pokemon products which show that it does not in any way incite violence or carry symbols which are offensive to anyone."

"I am not defending Pokemon, but I regret that fatwas [Muslim religious edicts] against this game, especially in Saudi Arabia, outnumber fatwas banning links with the Zionist entity," he said.

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, was the first to declare a ban on March 25th against Pokemon alleging that it promotes gambling and contains Zionist symbols.

Soon thereafter, top muftis (Islamic religious scholars) from Qatar and Egypt, including Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, followed suit issuing and endorsing similar fatwas banning the children's game.

The Saudi commerce ministry last month established special teams to confiscate and destroy Pokemon products including trading cards, comic books, films and toys.

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MIM: The Pakistanis from Jamaat Al Islamiyah put the fun into fundamentalism on a visit to Saudi Arabia . Wonder if they had time to watch the weekly Friday beheading with the locals after prayers ?

Ameer-e- Rahman Nizami returned home on 27 September. after attending the first conference to form the proposed High Commission for coordinating international Islamic sangsthas and centres held in the holy Makkah al Mukarrama in Saudi Arabia under the aegis of Rabita al Alam al Islami. As he reached Dhaka Zia International Airport he was greeted by Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Maqbul Ahmad, Assistant Secretaries General Abdul Quader Molla, ATM Azharul Islam, Prof. Mujibur Rahman and Maulana Muhammad Abu Taher, Ameer of Jamaat Dhaka City Mominul Islam Patwary, Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar, Secretary Rafiqul Islam Khan, Secretary of Industries Ministry Aiyub Quadri, BCIC Chairman Major General (Retd) Imamuzzaman, BSCIC Chairman Mohammad Solaiman Khan and others High Officials of Industries Ministry.

As Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami reached Jeddah on 20 Sept. at 11:45 pm he was greeted by Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, Consul General of Bangladesh in Jeddah, Director of Rabitat al Alam al Islami Jeddah and distinguished Bangladeshi personalities living in Jeddah. He left Jeddah for Makkah on that night. He performed Umrah just after reaching Makkah. After Umrah Maulana Nizami accepted hospitality in Royal Palace in Makkah as a guest.

On 21 Sept. Ameer-e-Jamaat along with a good number of dignitaries invited by Rabita called on Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at Royal Palace in Jeddah. Of dignitaries Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Shaikh, Secretary General of Rabita al Alam al Islami D. Abdullah bin Abdul Muhsin at Turki, IDB President D. Ahmad Muhammad Ali, former senator of Jordan Kamil Sharif, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Kazi Hossain Ahmad were present in the meeting.

Maulana Nizami attended the conference held in conference room of Rabita al Alam al Islami Headquarter on the following day.

Presided over by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al Shaikh the conference was attended by top ranking Islamic personalities of different countries including Secretary General of Rabita al Alam al Islami D. Abdullah bin Abdul Muhsin at Turki, former Senator of Jordan Kamil Sharif, IDB President D. Ahmad Muhammad Ali, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Kazi Hossain Ahmad, Secretary General of Indonesia Supreme Council for Muslims Dawah Abdul Wahid, President of Federation of Islamic Organisation in Europe Ahmad al Rawai, eminent Faquih of Syria D. Wahbah Former Sudanese President and President of Dawah Islamic organisation Abdur Rahman Sawar al jahab, Executive Chief of Federation of Muslim Association in Brazil Muhammad Hussain, Grand Mufti of Serbia Republic Hamadi Yusuf. In the conference participants stressed the need for coordination among different Islamic organisations of the world. It may be mentioned here that a decision on taking such an initiative was adopted at the conference of Rabita held in Makkah in 2002. For this the name like 'High Commission for coordination among international organisations and centers' was proposed in the conference. Detailed discussion on the necessicity and importance of this years conference, organisational structure etc was held on the basis of the proposal.

On 23 Sept. Industries Minister spoke at a gathering of Bangladeshi living in Makkah. Some entrepreneurs in Jeddah called on Industries Minister on the same day. The honourable Minister urged them to invest in different sectors especially in power sector.

The following day Maulana Nizami left Makkah for Madinah. He addressed a big gathering of Bangladeshis living in Madinah on the same day. The honourable Minister called upon them to work with sincerity to enhance the image of the country.

On 25 Sept. Maulana Nizami reached Jeddah again and had a meeting with Bangladeshis living there.

On 26 Sept. Industries Minister paid a courtesy call on IDB President D. Ahmad Muhammad Ali. Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia and Consul General of Bangladesh in Jeddah were present on the occasion. He called upon IDB President to invest in different sectors of Bangladesh.

THE First Islamic Solidarity Games were declared open here Friday at a glittering ceremony.

The games would be held simultaneously in four cities Makkah, Madina, Jeddah and Taif and would culminate on April 20. Fifty-five countries are participating in the Games.

Under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Makkah inaugurated the event at the Sports City in Al-Sharayea here.

Despite the withdrawal of a few top teams from the events, around 5,000 athletes participated in the opening ceremony donning their national colors and their impressive march-past enthralled the capacity crowd of 25,000. The march-past was led by the Kingdom followed by the flag of the Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC), the flag of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation, the flag of the Islamic Solidarity Games Tournament and the logo of the tournament and then the flags of the participating countries in alphabetical order.

In a speech delivered via satellite, Crown Prince Abdullah welcomed the participants and wished them a good stay in the Kingdom. He hoped that the tournament would achieve its lofty goals. The Crown Prince wished the organizers every success and hoped that the participating teams would return to their countries with the best memories of the Kingdom and its people.

The Crown Prince said the great Muslim ancestors established their great and prosperous civilization when they adhered to belief, real brotherhood and sincere unity. He said that it is worthwhile for them to recall the eternal values and that will awaken the Muslim nation (Ummah) from its sleep and restore its golden eras.

The Crown Prince wished that the games would be a historic gathering for the youth of the Muslim Ummah and that the competition will strengthen the feelings of brotherhood among the participants.

Prince Sultan Bin Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, General President of Youth Welfare, also addressed the gathering and expressed his happiness that the event was being organized in the Holy City.

The opening ceremony was telecast live by the Kingdom and many other Islamic countries including Pakistan, Iran, Algeria, Libya and Malaysia and correspondents of many channels were seen making arrangements for the live coverage.

The head of International Athletics Federation expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for the Kingdom s efforts in promoting sports, in particular, athletics games, and thanked Prince Nawaf Bin Mohammed for his tangible efforts in this area.

Non-Muslim participants have been accommodated at King Abdul Aziz Stadium, 17 km away from Makkah.